Pump and dump is fraud. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pump_and_dump But the effort was distributed and hard to track and prove, so the scammers that knew what they were doing are most likely safe.

Except there is a difference between a pump and dump and a short squeeze. No one is listening to the fundamentals, it doesn't matter.

I think you'd be hard pressed to make that argument on either side.

yes agreed. it's not crime by law... but it's like using uncovered parts of the law to swindle people.

Though it'll be really difficult to make a law preventing this without hurting beneficial actions.

well depends on the law though...

but this time, there's no 'fradulent' element, so I guess no.

If there were promises of earnings, it might have been.